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Thursday October 8, 1:13 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Uromed Corporation
First Publication on New "Nerve-Locating"
Technology for Prostate Cancer Surgery Shows Promising Results
NEEDHAM, Mass., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Early results from a new technology may aid skilled
urologic surgeons in preserving vital ''erectile function'' nerves during prostate cancer surgery, according
to a study published in the GOLD Journal of Urology this week. This new technology, the CaverMap
Surgical Aid, is the first electronic device designed to assist urologic surgeons in identifying and mapping
the course of erectile function nerves during prostate surgery. The most frequent complication of prostate
cancer surgery is impotence, often caused by intraoperative damage to these nerves. Protecting these
nerves and preserving potency offers significant clinical and quality of life benefits to patients.
The objective of the study was to determine if intraoperative nerve stimulation and nerve mapping
utilizing CaverMap would result in improved erectile function for patients post-operatively. Published
potency rates following this surgery can range from 11% to 86% of patients. This significant variation is
largely dependent upon surgical technique, experience and challenging anatomy.
In the preliminary study, use of CaverMap enabled post operative potency to be preserved in 90% of
patients. Laurence Klotz, M.D., a uro-oncologist at Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences
Centre (Sunnybrook Site) and author of the study commented, ''Use of the CaverMap Surgical Aid has
appeared to provide an improvement in post-operative potency of patients. Although further study with
larger patient numbers is needed, we are very pleased with our initial experience using CaverMap.
Surgeons currently rely on relative anatomy and surgical experience to guide their dissection and avoid
damage to these vital nerves. The CaverMap Surgical Aid may potentially give skilled surgeons the
opportunity to improve nerve-sparing effectiveness, resulting in better post-surgical outcomes for
patients.''
In an accompanying editorial comment, Carl A. Olsson, M.D., Professor and Chief of Urology at
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, commented, ''The study has the usual limitations of
pilot studies, however the message is clear. If a device is available that enables surgeons to 'map' the
course of the cavernous nerves allowing surgeons to avoid intraoperative damage it could represent an
improvement in patient care and significant quality of life benefits for patients.'' Dr. Olsson further stated,
''If this experience can be duplicated in a larger series, cavernous nerve mapping could become a
standard part of the radical prostatectomy.''
John G. Simon, Chairman and CEO of UroMed Corporation (Nasdaq: URMD - news), the developer of
the CaverMap technology, commented, ''These early clinical results have been very encouraging as we
continue to train a limited number of top urologic surgeons in a select number of hospital centers across
the U.S. This early experience has enabled us to determine how CaverMap may be best utilized for
optimum benefit to both surgeons and patients. Shortly, we will be initiating a North American Patient
Registry of several thousand patients across a number of U.S. institutions aimed at evaluating CaverMap's
impact as this technology and new techniques evolve.''
For more information on CaverMap Surgical Aid, the upcoming Patient Registry, or any other matters
pertaining to this technology, contact Paul Cardarelli at 800-433-5474, ext. 309.
SOURCE: Uromed Corporation |
